The Gift

The Gift is a psychological thriller and a joint US-Australian production that also happens to be written, produced and directed by Aussie actor Joel Edgerton. Edgerton also stars in a supporting role, alongside Rebecca Hall and Jason Bateman. If that seems like a lot of responsibility for Edgerton then he handles it admirably, the film rumbles along at a great pace and never stops being gripping, fascinating and ultimately incredibly disturbing.

Although it is his directorial debut, Edgerton has significant experience as a screenwriter, having contributed previously to the scripts of The Square, Felony and The Rover. As might then be expected, though it is not always the case, the script is sleek and accomplished. In his acting capacity Edgerton also impresses, being suitably unnerving and unsettling in the role of Gordo, an old high school acquaintance of Simon who appears keen to strike up a friendship with Simon and his wife Robyn, which he initiates with the provision of several generous gifts.

While Edgerton is fantastic to watch, and Robyn is performed well by Hall, as a character whose fragility is hinted at but never overplayed; I believe the stand out performance comes from Bateman as the ambitious, unctuous, executive Simon. Having been associated with comedy for most of his career, Bateman shows he can do slimy as well as anybody, if you have seen his performance in Juno then imagine that with the level of sinister ramped up several notches.

As Gordo’s behaviour becomes more and more strange, he forces Simon and Robyn to confront Simon’s past with every character being pushed to uncomfortable extremes. Edgerton handles these plot mechanisms brilliantly as the director, leading to a distressingly intense climax that shows that in all roles he knows exactly what he is doing.